Member Spotlight | The Loss of a Loved One

Member Spotlight | The Loss of a Loved One

by | Feb 12, 2018 | All, Fitness, Home, Member Stories | 4 comments

Shortly after John S. lost his wife of 53 years, he joined LA Fitness’ Silver Sneakers program in an effort to occupy his time. Unfortunately, more bad news still lay ahead. John was soon diagnosed with prostate cancer, causing him to spend two months in the hospital and another month in a rehab center. He was unable to lift or open a 16-ounce bottle of water. He was also unable to lift himself off the toilet seat and back into his wheelchair. It was a life-changing experience that this 80-year-old veteran and bible teacher never saw coming. Still, he persevered.

John S. with trainer Jenna N.

“To Jenna N. and LA Fitness, you have not only changed my life, but probably have saved it. With great sincerity and appreciation, I say ‘Thank You’.”

John S.

LA Fitness Member

John S. during his hospital stay.

When John was discharged from the rehab center, his wheelchair went with him. Over the course of the next year, John was required to wear a catheter and take a large number of prescription drugs. Slowly but surely, he went from a wheelchair, to a walker, and then to lifting weights. Once John was able to move around again (without the assistance of a wheelchair or walker), he began training at LA Fitness with Master Trainer, Jenna N. John shared, “Anyone can be inspired to exercise when your trainer is a 26-mile marathon runner.” Jenna was well-educated on which exercises would help improve John’s balance and coordination since he had previously been used to the assistance of either a wheelchair or walker.

Over time, John began getting stronger. In his words, “I went from prescription drugs to aspirin and black coffee, and no longer need a catheter. I am grateful for [my local] LA Fitness and their training program.” From having gone from three months bed confinement, with guests having to wear face masks when visiting him, John has come a long way to where is he today. When asked how having a trainer helped improve his overall health and fitness levels, John shared the following:

You may ask, ‘To work with a trainer, is it expensive?’, and I would ask you, ‘Being healthy or being sick?’ You do not know what I went through for those three months of bed confinement and prescription drugs. I understand that the medical team was doing the best they [could] having me as a patient. For days, my visitors had to wear a mask to visit me. Normal PSA (protein serum antigen) levels for a man are between 1 and 4. My PSA level was 234. Only an act of God could have kept me alive […] perhaps to write this testimony.

If you feel lost when it comes to where to begin your fitness journey, investing in a personal trainer may be the best place for you to start. LA Fitness offers a complimentary fitness assessment* with every membership. Every story has a beginning… what’s yours? Start writing it today at LA Fitness.

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This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

*Prior to fitness assessment, guest must show valid I.D. (must be 18 years of age or older) and complete a fitness analysis form. Scheduling of fitness assessment is subject to availability – it is recommended to call ahead and schedule an appointment. Limit one complimentary fitness assessment per person. Membership and/or personal training options may be presented.

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AAT – Ep. 15: What Are the Best Exercises for Stomach Fat?

AAT – Ep. 15: What Are the Best Exercises for Stomach Fat?

by | Feb 9, 2018 | All, Ask A Trainer, Fitness, Home, Workouts | 1 comment

Ask A Trainer: Featured Question of the Week

Belly fat – we hate it! But, how do we get rid of it? The answer isn’t as simple as a miracle pill or doing 50 crunches a day, rather, it’s a combination of things. LA Fitness Pro Results® trainer, Kayla V. explains further.

Do you have a fitness question? Ask one of our certified Pro Results® trainers here! Your question may be featured in an upcoming Ask Our Trainer video.**

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**Selected submissions will be featured on the LA Fitness blog and possibly other LA Fitness digital media entities & websites. By making a submission, you hereby grant LA Fitness a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable license to use and make copies of the contents of such submission for any purpose and in any medium whatsoever, and you hereby waive and relinquish any copyright or other intellectual property right you may have in the contents of such submission and your right to pursue any claim for LA Fitness’s violation of those intellectual property rights.

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Body Works Plus Abs: The Class You Have to Try

Body Works Plus Abs: The Class You Have to Try

by | Feb 7, 2018 | All, Exercises, Fitness, Home, Workouts | 1 comment

One of the great thing things about taking a Group Fitness class at LA Fitness is that all of the equipment is provided for you. You don’t have to worry about bringing your own weights or exercise equipment – all you have to focus on is showing up and giving it your best for (approximately) 55 minutes. It’s all about focusing on your own body. Group Fitness is a great way to push yourself with the helpful instruction of our certified instructors. Plus, you’re surrounded by other motivated individuals who are just as excited to focus on their health and fitness.

If you’re new to Group Fitness, don’t be intimidated! Everyone was new at some point. Group Fitness instructors will help teach you proper form and technique. Group Fitness is a great way to get fit with friends and family members while in an instructed, regimented environment. For those new to the gym, as well as those looking to switch up their typical exercise routine, Group Fitness classes are a great place to start.

A popular LA Fitness class is Body Works Plus Abs – after all, who doesn’t want a more toned core? In this class, members can expect a lightweight dumbbell workout moving to the beat of the music. You’ll be burning calories as you flow through a variety of exercises to help sculpt and tone your body into shape! With continued attendance, members may notice improvements in muscle tone, posture, balance and strength. It’s a full-body workout that provides full-body results.

In order to get a deeper understanding of what to expect from a Body Works Plus Abs class, we interviewed LA Fitness Group Fitness instructor Kate N., who shared all you need to know before giving this class a go. Check out her interview below!

Q: Please give a brief description of your fitness background and what brought you to start teaching Body Works Plus Abs.

Kate N: I’m an AFAA certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I teach various Group Fitness classes from Aqua to Yoga, and even step! I fell in love with teaching Group Fitness classes at LA Fitness. I was once a loyal participant of cycle classes at LA Fitness, and later, I found myself in the instructor seat.  It wasn’t long before I discovered Body Works Plus Abs and it quickly became my favorite Group Fitness class to teach.

Q: What is unique and special about Body Works Plus Abs over other Group Fitness classes?

KN: It’s a completely balanced workout that challenges you from head to toe! You target every muscle group while moving non-stop to the beat of the music. You learn technique while having a fun and energetic workout. Spectators of the class may not be able to see the challenge, but the participants can attest to its slow burn. It sneaks up on you throughout the class.

“…the participants can attest to its slow burn. It sneaks up on you throughout the class.”

Kate N.

Group Fitness Instructor, LA Fitness

Q: Would you recommend Body Works Plus Abs for all fitness levels?

KN: Most definitely! The beauty of Body Works Plus Abs is that we progress into each challenging exercise, which gives participants plenty of options to take it to their own personal best.

Find a Body Works Plus Abs class near you!

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Q: What equipment can a member expect to use when attending a class? Is there a specific dress code?

KN: We use lightweight dumbbells and an exercise mat. Simple and effective! Participants should wear comfortable fitness attire to move and sweat in.

Q:  If you could give one piece of advice to our readers, what would it be?

KN: Keep going to class! Consistency brings results!

In need of some motivation?

Check out some of our Member Spotlight success stories by clicking below!

Click here!

Invite a friend or family member to join you today & be rewarded! Send a guest pass here and read all about our VIP Rewards program here – trust us, you don’t want to miss out on these awesome rewards!

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We Tried Sous Vide Cooking: Here’s What We Thought

We Tried Sous Vide Cooking: Here’s What We Thought

by | Jan 31, 2018 | All, Home, Nutrition

We Tried Sous Vide Cooking: Here’s What We Thought

Written By:

Candice Currie

Bienvenue dans le monde merveilleux de la cuisine sous vide!

That’s French for, ‘Welcome to the wonderful world of sous vide cooking!’ Never heard of it? Well, you wouldn’t be the first. For a while, sous vide cooking was primarily a staple of fine dining establishments, and it was almost unheard of to use this method of cooking at home. However, over the years, sous vide cooking products have become more accessible and more budget-friendly, so this fancy style of cooking can be done from almost anywhere – including at home!

What is Sous Vide cooking?

Sous vide, translated from French, means “under vacuum.”

An immersion circulator is set to the proper cooking temperature for the product you’re planning to cook. There are multiple sous vide products on the market, varying in price, depending on what you’re looking for.

Besides the immersion circulator, the following items may make cooking sous vide style easier on you:

  • A vacuum sealer
  • A large polycarbonate container
  • A cast iron skillet

*Various sous vide temperature and cooking guides can be found online. 

 

How It Works

Still unsure of how the sous vide process actually works? Let’s break it down.

Cooking sous vide style is almost liking boiling; except using a sous vide immersion cooker allows you to maintain a constant temperature for longer periods of time. This makes it easier to get perfect results without undercooking, or overcooking, the meat (or any other item you cook this way).

Simply take your cut of meat and place it in an airtight sealed bag. A vacuum sealer works great for this, but store-bought food-grade plastic bags work fine too, just make sure you get out as much air as possible.

The sous vide immersion machine helps keep the water at a steady temperature to ensure bacteria are safely destroyed.

You can choose to seal in the meat with a marinade, or let it cook as is and season after, if preferred.

Once the product is done cooking, toss it on a cast iron skill it at the end for a nice seared finish. You could also opt for finishing it off on the barbecue, or eat as is.

After the product finishes cooking and is removed from the water, it should be ready to eat. The presentation is up to you.

“It was my first time trying anything prepared sous vide and it surprised me how pink the well-done hamburger appeared to be.  Fortunately, it tasted perfectly cooked and was by far the juiciest hamburger I have ever eaten.  Every bite was succulent and the texture was exquisitely soft, that along with a little char from the torch for taste made it a very unforgettable burger.  I’m excited to see what Chef Tony prepares for us next time.”

- Charlie H.

The Benefits of Sous Vide Cooking

  1. The cleanup is minimal.
  2. The meat retains its juiciness.
  3. It’s great for those living active lifestyles, considering it’s a set it-and-forget it cooking method.
  4. It’s great for food prep! Prepare larger quantities of healthy meals in advance by batch cooking.
  5. It’s healthy! Sous vide foods are able to retain more of their nutrients and vitamins by remaining sealed in their protective bags.

Sous Vide Hamburger

Photograph by Penny Schroeder.

Behind The Scenes

The more research our team did on sous vide cooking, the more we had to try it out for ourselves. With all the great reviews online about how tender the meat was, it left us pining for some mouthwatering French-style cooking.

We didn’t know what to expect, but we were forever changed. It was delicious.

To further prove the point of how simple sous vide style cooking is, we did this from the convenience of our office space. Our cooking host, Tony F., decided to cook our team grass-fed hamburgers: sous vide-style.

The easy step-by-step process can be seen below.

Step 1: Immerse packaged meat into water and set proper cooking time and temperature.

Step 2: Un-package patties and sear for taste and visual presentation.

Step 3: Enjoy with friends!

Pictured from left to right, Charlie H., Tony F., Kham N.

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

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AAT – Ep. 14: How Long Until I See Results?

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by | Jan 26, 2018 | All, Ask A Trainer, Fitness, Home, Workouts

Ask A Trainer: Featured Question of the Week

In today’s world we’re used to instant, unfortunately, that’s not how weight loss works. We sit down with Pro Results® trainer, Kayla V. who discusses what you should really be focusing on when looking for results.

Do you have a fitness question? Ask one of our certified Pro Results® trainers here! Your question may be featured in an upcoming Ask Our Trainer video.**

7 + 1 =

**Selected submissions will be featured on the LA Fitness blog and possibly other LA Fitness digital media entities & websites. By making a submission, you hereby grant LA Fitness a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable license to use and make copies of the contents of such submission for any purpose and in any medium whatsoever, and you hereby waive and relinquish any copyright or other intellectual property right you may have in the contents of such submission and your right to pursue any claim for LA Fitness’s violation of those intellectual property rights.

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